New brewery, Mexican restaurant look to open soon in Lake Zurich

Lake Zurich Brewery

Lake Zurich Brewery purchased equipment (pictured) that once belonged to Black Belt Brewery, which closed in 2016. The new brewery plans to open by late February at Black Belt’s former location in Lake Zurich.

Lake Zurich Brewery purchased equipment (pictured) that once belonged to Black Belt Brewery, which closed in 2016. The new brewery plans to open by late February at Black Belt’s former location in Lake Zurich. (Lake Zurich Brewery)

Two new businesses are looking for success in Lake Zurich at locations where two former businesses shuttered.

The closing of Black Belt Brewery and El Jardin restaurant paved the way for Carlos Mexican Grill and Seafood 4 and Lake Zurich Brewing to open in the village, according to representatives with the new establishments. Both businesses plan to open in February, they said.

Carlos Pulido, who owns three other restaurants in the area, said he hopes to open Carlos Mexican Grill and Seafood 4 at 500 Ela Road by the third week in February.

"The restaurant is pretty much done," he said. "We just have to do some cleaning and painting and a few things. Pretty much everything is there."

The space became available after the closing of El Jardin, providing a good opportunity for Pulido to move in with little preparation, Pulido said.

El Jardin moved out of its space in May 2017, while Black Belt Brewery closed in December 2016, village officials said.

The new restaurant in Lake Zurich will present the same menu and theme that are found at Pulido's other restaurants.

"We've been very successful so far," Pulido said. "Business has been very good."

Eric Burnson, business manager for Lake Zurich Brewing, said the new brewery will operate in the same space, 932 Donata Court, that once belonged to Black Belt Brewery.

Lake Zurich Brewery plans to open by the end of February, he said.

The new brewery purchased Black Belt's brewing equipment in an asset sale but did not take the old business' name, Burnson said.

"It's a fresh start," he said. "The equipment is relatively new and not used very long, only three or four months. It's a pretty good business pickup from our side."

Upon opening, Burnson said, the business plans to offer a standard IPA, pale ale, hoppy wheat ale and a cream ale.

"Those are the staples we'll start out with and we'll continue to build off of that," Burnson said.

The Lake Zurich Village Board granted liquor licenses to both businesses earlier in January.

Black Belt received a license for craft breweries, while Carlos Mexican Grill and Seafood 4 received a license to serve alcohol inside the restaurant and in an outdoor seating area, said Michael Duebner, innovation director for Lake Zurich.

Pulido said he was not sure how many seats will be available outdoors for customers, but he said he will seek the maximum allowed by the village.

The restaurant will start off with six or seven employees when it opens, but that number could grow if the restaurant sees high demand, he said.

Pulido chose to expand into Lake Zurich because of the location, he said.

"I saw it as a really good opportunity for us," Pulido said. "Lake Zurich is a really good place. There are a lot of people. It's a big town. That's it pretty much."

Burnson plans to convert former office space at Black Belt into a taproom that can seat up to 25, with additional seating for up to 50 people inside the brewing area, he said.

The brewery will not have a kitchen, but it will serve snacks and allow customers to order food from area restaurants, Burnson said.